SushiSamba
Celebrate the imminent arrival of 2013 in true Brazilian style at Reveillon, SushiSamba’s annual white party. Both NYC locations will feature DJs, samba dancers, drummers, party favors, an all-white décor, and staff in festive dress. The full menu (with celebratory specials like Wagyu Beef Tataki and Lobster Coconut Seviche) will be offered a la carte, plus a $30 surcharge for seatings from 10 pm to...
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Aureole
You can’t get much closer to the bustle of Times Square than at Charlie Palmer’s luxurious steakhouse, Aureole, but you might have to dip into your savings in order to finance an 8-9:30pm seating. $395 covers a five-course tasting menu plus admission to the after party, which includes a DJ, dancing, passed hors d’oeuvres, and a champagne toast at...
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Best Gastropub – Pork Slope
It doesn’t get more unpretentious and casual than this recently opened Park Slope pub, even though Top Chef golden boy Dale Talde is part owner and Executive chef. All of the classic Americana menu items (Dale’s nearby restaurant, Talde, is known for quirky Asian fusion) are designed to be totally affordable, and ideally paired with a glass of great whisky, a pint of microbrew, or even a PBR and a shot if that’s your thing. Choices include a smoky Brisket Sandwich, a rack of sticky St. Louis ribs, and a squishy fast food-style burger (that’s actually a great thing.) Our far and away favorite is the Porky Melt, a sweet sausage patty topped with caramelized onions, mustard and melted cheese, and served on marbled rye bread. A side of crispy tater tots is a must…we hear that they’re Dale’s...
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Best After Work Drinks – Post Office
Brooklyn isn’t exactly short on options when it comes to great bars for after work drinks, but we love the ultra-casual vibe of this Williamsburg watering hole. We particularly enjoy its 30-strong list of vintage spirits and small batch whiskies. Try the powerful and oaky Berkshire Corn Whiskey, tempered by a fruity finish of cherry and apple, or the considerably milder Michter’s American, which tastes like buttered popcorn, vanilla, and candied almonds. Either pairs perfectly with classic bar grub like Pulled Pork sandwiches or Grilled Cheese, assuring a pleasant end to even the most stressful work...
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Best New Find – The Wallace
Can a former magazine publisher -turned chef- turned restaurant owner even hope to make a mark on Brooklyn’s expansive local-seasonal scene? The answer is yes if you’re talking about Jon Wallace, who just opened his first eatery in Clinton Hill with fiance Jessica Soule. At The Wallace, chef Jon manages to add spice and soul to dishes that, at less interesting restaurants and under less capable hands, run the risk of becoming tired trends. Case in point – a board of both housemade and locally sourced Charcuterie, which includes duck liver pate with diced jalapeño and plum jam, testa with pickled shallot, and Benton’s ham with chili oil (we weren’t kidding about the spice). A not-too-sweet Butternut Squash Risotto with mascarpone, pecorino romano and balsamic reduction makes a terrific follow-up, as do Braised Oxtails (tender as short ribs!) with...
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Date Night – The Castello Plan
If you’re looking for a fancy, candlelit place for a cookie-cutter first date, The Castello Plan definitely isn’t it. But there are so many other things to worry about when wining and dining that special someone, why stress over which fork to use or if you really can afford that Market Priced lobster? This intimate Ditmas Park wine bar will put you both at ease, with over 110 bottles (both absolutely affordable and well, non, depending on what you’re comfortable with), 16 Belgian beers, and a menu that goes well beyond cheese, crostini, and mixed olives. We love the Plum and Manchego Salad with arugula and toasted sunflower seeds, Butternut Squash Gnocchi with oyster mushrooms, sage and truffle oil, and Black Bass with roasted heirloom carrots, bacon-sauteed sucreine lettuce, fried shallots, and roasted poblano peppers. We also totally advocate...
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Best Gastropub – The Redhead
Here at Restaurant Girl, we consider knowing how to select the perfect place for dinner an essential skill. Of course, picking the ultimate spot in a city so full of choices isn’t always easy – so whether you’re looking to get down and dirty with a plate of barbecue, need a romantic (but not too romantic!) place to take a first date, or just want to decompress after work with a good, stiff drink, we’ve got five ideal options for you.
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Eat To Impress – Atera
Here at Restaurant Girl, we consider knowing how to select the perfect place for dinner an essential skill. Of course, picking the ultimate spot in a city so full of choices isn’t always easy – so whether you’re looking to get down and dirty with a plate of barbecue, need a romantic (but not too romantic!) place to take a first date, or just want to decompress after work with a good, stiff drink, we’ve got five ideal options for you.
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Best Southern Comfort Cooking – Hill Country
Here at Restaurant Girl, we consider knowing how to select the perfect place for dinner an essential skill. Of course, picking the ultimate spot in a city so full of choices isn’t always easy – so whether you’re looking to get down and dirty with a plate of barbecue, need a romantic (but not too romantic!) place to take a first date, or just want to decompress after work with a good, stiff drink, we’ve got five ideal options for you.
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Date Night – Pylos
It ain’t easy to wine and dine in this fine city without burning a hole in your wallet, but there are a few romantic gems that don’t break the bank. In fact, we prefer the intimate setting and the thousands of white urns dangling from the ceiling at this East Village Greek. The wine selection at Pylos is excellent and affordable, and the food is even better – try homestyle Greek delicacies, like Grilled Baby Lamb Chops with mini-stuffed eggplants, Scallops in an Ouzo Tomato Sauce, and of course, pita and a trio of classic dipping sauces perfect for sharing. Don’t worry… two people with garlic breath cancel each other...
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After Work Drinks – Blind Tiger Ale House
Here at Restaurant Girl, we consider knowing how to select the perfect place for dinner an essential skill. Of course, picking the ultimate spot in a city so full of choices isn’t always easy – so whether you’re looking to get down and dirty with a plate of barbecue, need a romantic (but not too romantic!) place to take a first date, or just want to decompress after work with a good, stiff drink, we’ve got five ideal options for you.
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Momofuku Milk Bar
Any bakery that can make magic with Thanksgiving leftovers (ie: Momofuku’s turkey and cranberry-stuffed croissant), is bound to have a few tricks up their sleeve come Christmas. We can’t wait to try chef Christina Tosi’s festive twist on her popular Cornflake Cookies (she added peppermint), her traditional Stollen, or ingenious Cinnamon Bun Pie – a thick, cinnamon-scented crust filled with a viscous brown butter vanilla frosting and topped with honeyed oats. Snag a slice for yourself at Momofuku Milk Bar locations all over town, or at their stand at the Union Square Holiday...
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Pasticceria Rocco
Don’t let your preconceived notions of fruitcake prevent you from trying Rocco’s delectable Panettone, an oversized, cylindrical sweet bread studded with candied orange, citron, lemon zest and raisins. You needn’t worry about finishing it off in one sitting – the hearty bread makes a great vehicle for day-after-Christmas pudding, or sinfully rich French toast. Just one warning, you’ll probably find it hard to leave Rocco’s without filling a pastry box with a variety of other holiday specialties, like Biscotti, Regina and Quaresimali cookies, sticky-sweet Marzipan candies, and...
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Hot Bread Kitchen
What’s not to love about Hot Bread Kitchen? They sell baked goods to finance programs supporting low-income individuals, and everything they make happens to be fantastic. It doesn’t hurt that the guy manning the ovens is former Per Se baker Ben Hershberger, who’s debuting a rum-soaked, fruit-stuffed, almond-filled Stollen this season. That means we’ll probably end up eating our weight in cake, but it’s a bit of holiday overindulgence we can really feel good...
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Café Sabarsky
Herring, soft pretzels and sausages may not immediately scream Christmas to us, but there’s no denying that Austrians know a thing or two when it comes to making scrumptious holiday pastries. Thankfully, there’s no need to hop on a plane for a taste of Linzertorte, currently served at Café Sabarsky, an authentic Viennese café inside the Neue Galerie. A traditional Christmas confection, the lattice-topped tart is filled with raspberry jam and hazelnuts, and sprinkled with sliced pistachios, almonds, and powdered...
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Columbus Circle Holiday Market
If you’re more of an uptown shopper, there are plenty of high-end purveyors to choose from at this festive, open-air bazaar. We had our eye on a $250 hand-knit wrap-around sweater, but maybe we were just lightheaded from hunger. Better warm up with a bowl of tortilla soup from Cascabel Taqueria before you impulse buy. It’s loaded with chunks of tender chicken and tortilla chips and sprinkled with queso fresco and Mexican...
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Union Square Holiday Market
If you regularly frequent Union Square for its fabulous farmers market (as you definitely should), you’ll especially appreciate its granddaddy of a holiday bazaar, now in its 19th year. A 100-strong list of vendors peddle unique products (we’ve got our eye on antique NYC maps from Pageant Print shop), until December 24th. If you’ve waited until Christmas Eve to finish your shopping you might have bigger problems to worry about, but there’s no reason to let hunger get in the way of you participating in the last minute rush. We particularly recommend the Arancina al Nero di Seppia from Arancini Bros. Besides being a perfect, handheld mini-meal, these crispy, creamy risotto balls are flavored with squid ink and filled with tomatoes and spicy shrimp, perfect if you have to skip the Feast of the Seven Fishes in order to...
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Grand Central Holiday Fair
Grand Central’s elegant Holiday Fair features 76 micro-boutiques, and while none of them specialize in food, the terminal itself has seriously stepped up its game in the last few years. Finish off a day of shopping with a ready-to-go sandwich from Murray’s Cheese, pick up a fancy french pastry from Financier, or, if you still have a bit of cash to burn, settle in for champagne and crustaceans at the Grand Central Oyster...
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